Plastic bellows elbow with spigot and socket ends



5, 1963 s. .N. SCHLEIN 3,076,669

PLASTIC BELLOWS ELBOW WITH SPIGOT AND SOCKET ENDS Filed Feb. 20, 1961 5Sheets-Sheet 1 v,lulllr .l'l

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3mm: M swan/v Feb. 5, 1963 v s. N. SCHLEIN 7 PLASTIC BELLOWS ELBOW WITHSPIGOT AND SOCKET END S Filed Feb. 20, 1961 3 Sheelts-Sheet 2 1INVENTOR.

HIS 1477 0206) S. N. SCHLEIN Feb. 5, 1963 PLASTIC BELLOWS ELBOW WITHSPIGOT AND SOCKET ENDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 20, 1961 INVENTOR.SEYMOUR N. SCf/L E/IV F A HIS A TTORNEY United States Patent Ofilice3,076,669 PLASTIC BELLOWS ELBOW WITH SPIGOT AND SOCKET ENDS Seymour N.Schlein, University Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Farmer ManufacturingCompany, Cleveland, Ohio,

a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Feb. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 90,383 2Claims. (Cl. 285-179) This invention relates to improvements inapparatus for drainage systems for houses and more particularly to animproved elbow for connecting a leader to an eavestrough or gutter.

Heretofore it has been common practice to connect a gutter to a leaderor downspout with one or more elbows. In this case the eavestrough isdisposed at and slightly under the outermost horizontally extending edgeof the roof which usually has some overhang outward of the side of thedwelling. The eavestrough is usually supported so that it drains towardone end, and, the lower end is provided with an opening in the bottom.It is desirable to have the downspout supported close to or against theside or corner of the house, and, the upper end connects to theeavestrough while the lower end connects to a drain. Usually theeavestrough and downspout are made of metal and where one is connectedto the other, metallic elbows are used.

The metallic elbows usually have a certain fixed degree of bend, such as45 or 90 and it is common to provide two such elbows, one at theeavestrough which bends toward the downspout and one at the downspoutwhich bends toward the eavestrough, the two being connected together.When the overhang of the edge is large, this presents no particularproblem, but, when the overhang is small, it is sometimes ditficult toprovide room enough to enable the installation of these elbows, with theresult that a custom built elbow is required, which is expensive.

Although elbows are made which are adjustable, they are also expensiveto make as well as dii'licult to adjust.

The elbow of the present invention has certain attributes, due to itsdesign, that enable one single design of elbow to fill substantially allthe purposes of all the prior elbows used for this purpose, thusenabling the artisan to reduce the size of his stock on hand, and whatis also important to assure that when he arrives on a job he always hasan elbow that can be used to fulfill his purpose and does not have towaste time hunting'for a particular type of elbow, and then to findthathe must return to the shop to get it.

Other disadvantages of the prior art metallic elbows resided in the factthat they were expensive to make. They usually were made of a fiat sheetof metal which was then bent into the desired configuration and welded,soldered or riveted. A particular disadvantage resides in the fact thatif they were adjustable they required sliding joints which weredifficult to operate and which, when installed, soon rusted out, due tothe fact that dirt got into the joints, absorbed and held water incontact with the metal.

Furthermore, the fitting of the joints to each other and to theeavestrough and downspout was accompanied by diiliculty, because thepoint where the joints coupled together or to the eavestrough ordownspout required the inter-fitting of male and female members and onehad to be larger than the other. If they were made of the proper size sothat a quick and easy fit was obtained, then they had to be heldtogether by screws or by soldering and the joint was usually sloppy,difficult to solder and not by any means a solid waterproof joint andone that did not improve with the passage of time.

With this type of product, it was extremely difficult to 3,076,669Patented Feb. 5, 1%63 hold production dimensional tolerances withinpredetermined limits, with the result that either the joint was loose orthe parts were so nearly the same size that they could not be assembledtogether.

A further disadvantage of the metallic elbows resided in the fact thatin cold weather the ice and snow accumulated in them and the alternatemelting and icing caused the elbows to become clogged, due to their highthermal conductivity.

The present invention enables the manufacture of an elbow or couplingwhich is cheap to make, will not rust, and wherein the connection to theother parts or between each other becomes more firm and leakproof astime passes, being self sealing. Furthermore, it is so made that theproblem of assembly is materially less difiicult. Due to its method ofmanufacture, the couplings are all identical to each other and noproblem is realized in the field in assembling the same with otherparts.

A further advantage resides in the fact that the coupling can be made invarious colors. Another advantage is that it does not need painting,particularly on the inside. Once installed, it becomes an integral partof the drainage system and adds to rather than detracts from theaesthetic beauty of the installation. It may be installed by workmenwith a limited amount of skill and with an assurance that once installedit increases its effectiveness with the passage of time.

Due to its low thermal conductivity, it is not subject to icing.Furthermore the construction allows it to expand and contract andpartake of other movements due to the change in position of theeavestrough. Furthermore it is not subject to electrolysis as were theprevious metal elbows.

Briefly, the invention contemplates the manufacture of the couplings bya molding process, from a plastic material. The coupling itselfcomprises opposite end portions, one of which is adapted to beslippedover another connector and the other end adapted to he slippedinto another connector. The intermediate portion of the coupling isprovided with a bellows formation which provides the coupling with acertain degree of flexibility, allowing it to be bent in any directionand to expand and contract.

Still other advantages of the invention and the invention itself willbecome more apparent from the following description of some embodimentsthereof, which description is illustrated by the accompanying drawingsand forms a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a coupling of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, taken fromthe line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a similar view taken from the line on of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view showing the'bottom edges of a roof and itseavestrough with a pair of the couplings used to connect the same to adownspout.

Referring now to the drawings, throughout which like parts aredesignated by like reference characters.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the coupling comprises an uppercoupling member 10 which is generally square in cross section. It willbe particularly noted that the side walls diverge from each other in anupward direction. This portion is adapted to be telescoped over the endof a connector 50 extending through an opening in an eavestrough 51.

As can best be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3, the long or front and backsides, of the part Ill, are provided with an outwardly olfset part 12,which extends longitudinally of the coupling and the adjacent side walls21 are provided with a thickened mid-portion 22. Emphasis is placed uponthe particular design because it has a definite bearing on the ease ofinstallation and its ability after it is installed to provide aleakproof seal which improves with age and enhances the desirableoperating characteirstics of the material of which the device iscomposed.

At this point it should be pointed out that although many dilierenttypes of plastic may be used a preferred plastic is one which has goodcold flow characteristics; that is one that will have limited flow, atlow temperatures, and, still will not have excessive flow at the highertemperatures that may be encountered. One such type of material is apolyvinyl chloride which has some flow down to 20 F. and does not haveexcessive flow up to 160 F. It should be noted that such a material hasa degree of flexibility which permits installation in cold weatherwithout cracking and which, although increasing a flexibility in hotweather, does not flow so much as to lose its gripping qualities. Thecharacter inherent in the material therefore cooperates with the designto provide a device which, after installation, will resist thevariations in temperature and particularly will cause the device togradually shrink and conform closely to the parts to which it isattached as time progresses, to ultimately make a coupling that will, ineffect, become an integral part of the system in which it is installed.

The outwardly offset part is of particular advantage duringinstallation. In a typical construction illustrated in the drawingsWhere the rectangular dimensions are roughly 2 by 3", the inner wall ofthe offset part may be ofiset from the bordering side wall portions atthe top edges by This, as stated, is a typical construction, taking intoconsideration the size of the part 16 and the material of which it ismade. Variations in these dimensions will readily be apparent to thoseversed in the art For instance, it is contemplated that the amount ofthe effect may decrease from the top edge toward the bottom to such anextent that at the lower end the offset disappears. The point of havingthe oilset is that, during installation, increased flexibility isrealized, which, together with the taper, facilitates its installation.Once the coupling is telcsceped around a male member, as timeprogresses, the offset will gradually become smaller and the entireinner wall moves over and into close engagement throughout its fulllength with the coupling member. Likewise at the lower and smaller endthe coupling will gradually move out and release the tensional stresses.Actually with the passage of time the pressure of the coupling with theouter member will become equalized throughout its circumference andlength and this pressure will remain the same, due to the plastic memoryof the device, i.e., the ability to stretch and after stretching losesome of its tension, or, to contact until a certain tension is reachedand then stop contracting. The ability to expand and contract, and thefact that the material has a plastic memory, together with theparticular design assures that an effective seal will be providedthroughout a Wide range of temperatures.

The thickened portion 22 also provides an important attribute. It willbe noticed that the thickened part is opposite the mid-line through thecoupling and gradually thins out toward the corners. Thus, oninstallation, the thickest part of the thickened portion provides atangential engagement with the outer wall of the male member, whichcauses the wall 22 to bow outwardly slightly. But this outward bowing isresisted by the member being thicker in the middle and thus the outwardforce helps to bring the oliset part 12 inward. This portion also causesthe thinner corners to conform more closely to the corners on the malemember. Furthermore, in time the increased thickness of the materialpermits a cold flow, preventing the corners from thinning down too muchand breaking. This is because the sides being wider and the cornershugging the male member, plus the tangent pressure noted,

cause the thickened part to flatten out. This is not a fast process butone which takes a certain amount of time, depending upon thetemperature. It will be seen therefore that there is a definitecooperation between the thick part 22 and the offset 12 and thebordering parts that enhance the quick and easy installation and providea coupling that once in place grows onto the part to which it isattached.

Immediately below the upper coupling part there is provided a generallycircuiar flexible intermediate portion 30. This is comprised of a seriesof adjacent inwardly and outwardly extending convolutions, which providea structure similar to the well known bellows. A typical construction,as illustrated, contemplates circumferentially extending corrugationsthe outer crests of which have a diameter of approximately 3% and theinner crests of which have a diameter of 2 /2". The crests may be spacedapart longitudinally of the coupling.

Although the corrugations may be uniform from one end of the other,certain advantages are obtained if the radius of curvature at the rootsand crests is larger at the top end. As a typical construction, thecurvature at the roots at the top could be of A3 radius while at thebottom they could be radius.

The corrugations are circular to permit the device to be bent in anydirection and it is possible, with this construction, to make any degreeof bend beyond 0 and 99 and in any direction. Of particular interest isthe fact that this type of material may be made relatively stifi undernormal temperatures and therefore is not apt to sag after installation.Bending is facilitated by applying heat, such as by immersion in hotwater, after which it may be bent white hot and then quenched with coldwater to retain the desired bend in a more or less permanent stateduring installation. On the other hand, should there be any tension onthe joint, due to the fact that the prebending was not of the exactamount, the cold flow characteristics would eventually cause the same tomove and bend or unbend of its own accord until the device becomesstabbilized.

The lower end of the device terminates in a male coupling member 44which is identical in construction to the upper member except that ittapers in the downward direction or toward the end. In this respect theoffset portion 12a engages with the inner surface of the downspout and,on initial installation will be pressed inwardly, resulting in someinward bowing of the bordering wall portions on opposite sides. On theadjacent sides the thickened parts 22a have an initial tangentialengagement with the opposite inner walls of the downspout. The shape issuch, however, that this structure acts as two opposite levers, causingthe corners to be pulled outward into close engagement with the cornersof the downspout.

An additional advantage of the structure resides in the fact that sincethe lower end is smaller, it may be telescoped into the upper portion,when two of the units are used and an 8 curve is desired, with the parts12a of the small end sliding closely within the parts 12 of the enlargedend.

In all instances there is a sufficient degree of flexibility that partsmay be readily joined to each other or to the eavestrough and downspoutand after a time gradually change in shape to such an extent that theparts closely grip each other and still retain sufficient of theoriginal conformation that with changes in temperature the inherentresiliency will maintain a good gripping engagement.

Having thus described the invention I am aware that numerous andextensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from thespirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1.- An elbow for connecting an eavestrough to a down spout wherein theeavestrongh has a coupling of rectangular cross section connectedthereto, said elbow comprising an upper portion for telescopicengagement over the outside of said coupling and being comprised of aplastic having limited flexibility and a tendency to cold flow to apredetermined set under sustained pressure and having an elastic memory,such as to cause it to return to its original conformation upon releaseof pressure and the ability to contract and form a close weatherproofseal, such as polyvinyl chloride, and having an upper portion which issubstantially rectangular in cross section and of a length substantiallythat of the coupling on the eavestrough and being of increasing diametertoward its upper end, two opposite sides of said walls being formed withan outwardly extending portion arranged to be distorted on applicationand the two adjacent sides being formed with a median zone whichgradually increases in diameter toward the mid-line of the wall toprovide an inwardly projecting portion, an intermediate flexible portioncomprised of a plurality of circumferentially extending convoluti'ons toprovide a bellows formation, the radius of curvature at the extremitiesof said corrugations being larger at the upper end and smaller at thelower end, a second rectangular portion integrally connected to theother end of said flexible portion and being of substantially the sameconformation as the upper rectangular portion, and being of graduallydecreasing diameter toward the end and arranged to be telescoped insidea downspout.

2. A connector for connecting an eavestrough to a downspout wherein theeavestrough has a coupling of rectangular cross section connectedthereto, said connector comprising an upper portion for telescopicengagement over the outside of said coupling and being comprised of aplastic having limited flexibility and a tendency to cold flow to apredetermined set under sustained pressure and having an elastic memorysuch as to cause it to return to its original conformation upon releaseof pressure and the ability to contract and form a close weatherproofseal, such as polyvinyl chloride, and having an upper portion which issubstantially rectangular in cross section and of a length substantiallythat of the coupling on the eavestrough and being of increasing diametertoward its upper end, two opposite sides of said Walls being formed withan outwardly extending portion arranged to be distorted on applicationand the two adjacent sides being formed with a median zone whichgradually increases in diameter toward the mid-line of the wall toprovide an inwardly projecting portion, an intermediate flexible portioncomprised of a plurality of circumferentially extending convolutions toprovide a bellows formation, a second rectangular portion integrallyconnected to the other end of said flexible portion and being ofsubstantially the same conformation as the upper rectangular portion,and being of gradually decreasing diameter toward the end and arrangedto be telescoped inside a downspout.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSSwitzerland Aug. 31, 1954

1. AN ELBOW FOR CONNECTING AN EAVESTROUGH TO A DOWNSPOUT WHEREIN THEEAVESTROUGH HAS A COUPLING OF RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION CONNECTEDTHERETO, SAID ELBOW COMPRISING AN UPPER PORTION FOR TELESCOPICENGAGEMENT OVER THE OUTSIDE OF SAID COUPLING AND BEING COMPRISED OF APLASTIC HAVING LIMITED FLEXIBILITY AND A TENDENCY TO COLD FLOW TO APREDETERMINED SET UNDER SUSTAINED PRESSURE AND HAVING AN ELASTIC MEMORY,SUCH AS TO CAUSE IT TO RETURN TO ITS ORIGINAL CONFORMATION UPON RELEASEOF PRESSURE AND THE ABILITY TO CONTRACT AND FORM A CLOSE WEATHERPROOFSEAL, SUCH AS POLYVINYL CHLORIDE AND HAVING AN UPPER PORTION WHICH ISSUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR IN CROSS SECTION AND OF A LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLYTHAT OF THE COUPLING ON THE EAVESTROUGH AND BEING OF INCREASING DIAMETERTOWARD ITS UPPER END, TWO OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID WALLS BEING FORMED WITHAN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION ARRANGED TO BE DISTORTED ON APPLICATIONAND THE TWO ADJACENT SIDES BEING FORMED WITH A MEDIAN ZONE WHICHGRADUALLY INCREASES IN DIAMETER TOWARD THE MID-LINE OF THE WALL TOPROVIDE AN